CHAPTER 131: TEASING MRS LIRA 3

Jae’s sharp eyes caught it almost immediately. The faint flush that touched Mrs. Liara’s cheeks, the unsteady rise and fall of her chest, the way she avoided meeting his gaze too long, she was flustered.

A slow smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He didn’t push it directly, not yet, but he shifted his tone, his approach.

"Teacher," he said softly, stepping closer. His voice carried a surprising gentleness, almost concerned. "You look... a little winded. Did I push you too much?"

Mrs. Liara stiffened at his words, instinctively adjusting her glasses to cover the faint tremor in her hands. "I-I’m fine," she replied quickly, her tone sharper than she intended. "Don’t concern yourself with, "

But Jae closed the distance before she could finish. He moved smoothly, his hand brushing against hers, warm and firm. "No, really," he interrupted, lowering his voice so it was almost intimate. "I didn’t mean to stress you out."

The contact was subtle, just skin against skin, but the effect on her body was immediate. Heat shot through her nerves again, making her breath hitch.

Her composure cracked, the pressure of his hand guiding her forward sending ripples of pleasure that she had no business feeling.

Almost panicked, she tried to step back, but Jae was already leading her toward the nearest chair. "Here," he said with quiet insistence, "you should sit. Just for a moment."

Her pulse pounded against her ribs, and it felt dangerously close to spiraling out of control. Why does every touch feel like this? Her legs felt weak, trembling slightly as she sank into the seat. He released her gently, but her skin still tingled from the ghost of his touch.

Jae straightened, watching her with a faint smile before stepping back into his stance. "I’ll keep practicing. You just... rest a bit, okay?"

Mrs. Liara wanted to protest, wanted to remind him she was his instructor, not someone to be handled like porcelain, but the words caught in her throat.

Her body still hadn’t calmed, and the thought of deflecting his concern somehow felt harder than simply allowing it.

So she nodded faintly, unable to muster her usual authority. "Fine. Show me again."

Jae inhaled deeply, centering himself. This time, when he called his mana, it surged forth effortlessly.

The energy pooled at his core, rose through his chest, and spilled down his arm before channeling neatly through his fingertips. A faint shimmer sparked in the air, proof of his success.

He grinned boyishly, shaking his hand as the glow faded. "There we go. Nailed it."

Mrs. Liara clapped lightly, her voice warm though she knew the truth. "Excellent. That was very well done."

Inside, her thoughts twisted. She had seen through him earlier, she knew he had been faking his failures.

He hadn’t needed her guidance nearly as much as he pretended. Which meant this moment wasn’t about progress. It was about her.

Still, she played her part, cheering softly as though his success had been hard-won. Her heart betrayed her, swelling with something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Then Jae turned to her with that same easy smile. "Teacher," he said suddenly, "can I get a hug? To celebrate. To show my appreciation."

Her body stiffened again. "That’s... unnecessary," she began, but the request was disarmingly innocent. He wasn’t asking for much. Just a hug. A small, harmless thing.

She drew in a slow breath, forcing herself to remain professional. "Fine," she said at last. "But only for formality’s sake."

He stepped forward, arms spreading slightly, and she allowed herself to be drawn in.

The embrace was brief, chaste, yet to her, it felt like so much more. His warmth surrounded her, his heartbeat steady against her cheek for the fraction of a second she lingered.

She told herself it was meaningless, a teacher’s courtesy... but her heart raced all the same.

When she pulled away, her lips betrayed her with a soft smile.

Jae noticed, of course. His grin widened knowingly before he bowed slightly in thanks. "I’ll see you tomorrow then, Teacher."

And with that, he turned and walked toward the door.

Mrs. Liara watched him leave, her breath still uneven.

The echo of his warmth clung to her body long after he was gone. She touched her chest lightly, feeling her own racing pulse, and whispered to herself. "How... how am I supposed to face him tomorrow?"

The thought haunted her even after she extinguished the lights and left the room.

The next morning came too quickly.

Jae woke to the familiar chime of his system interface. A translucent screen flickered before his eyes, glowing faintly in the morning light.

[System Notice]

Warning: Flame Dragon Lord’s mana not yet fully absorbed.

Jae groaned, rubbing his face. "Still? I thought I’d finished that."

He pulled up the detailed explanation. Lines of glowing text unfolded, each word making his expression twist further.

[Absorption Progress: 67%]

Requirement: Completion of specialized acts to unlock sealed mana pathways.

"What now?" he muttered, tapping for clarification.

The system’s cold, mechanical voice rang in his head:

[Task List: To complete absorption, the following conditions must be met]

– Perform a set of perverse acts with a royal (in her other hole).

– Complete a threesome.

– Engage with a mature woman (MILF archetype).

Jae’s jaw dropped. He stared at the glowing list, then threw himself back against his bed with a groan. "You’ve got to be kidding me. This system is insane."

His fingers ran through his hair as he scowled at the ceiling. "It’s always something... always making things harder. Why can’t it just give me power without these ridiculous conditions?"

The system remained silent, as if mocking his complaint.

Dragging himself out of bed, Jae prepared for class, though his mind kept circling back to the requirements. Royals. Threesomes. Older women. The absurdity of it all left him sighing at random intervals as he walked across campus.

By the time he reached the classroom, his expression was unreadable, his usual sharp energy dimmed by the weight of his thoughts.

Byun noticed immediately. The observant boy leaned over as Jae settled into his seat. "You’re quiet today. What’s bugging you?"

Jae froze for a moment, forcing his expression back into neutrality. He couldn’t exactly explain what his system had just demanded of him. With a shrug, he gave the simplest answer he could manage.

"Nothing much," he said casually, leaning back in his chair. "Just... thinking about how to get stronger."